Albanian Kosovan pite and a birthday cake for Hameed

Feb. 3 my cell phone would beep. Strolling digital letters told me "It is Hameeds birthday today!!!" Then facebook asked me to send birthday wishes to my friend.

"Are you sure?" Aymen asked in disbelief, when I told him the next day that the first item on our agenda should be the making of a birthday cake for Hameed. "Are you able to do this?"

I left his question unanswered, as it seemed unworthy to answer it. I had remembered to bring everything but the eggs. Anatol would borrow me "четыре яйца". We decided on the second floor kitchen as the scene for our creative event. I had opted for a chocolate cake. Somehow, fruits did not seem to go with Hameed.

It turned out to be a lovely morning. While we were trying to make the cake match the picture in the cookbook, Kumrije and Shkandije were celebrating the art of making a Kosovan or rather Albanian pite.

"Hameed's birthday is March 2." Therre was hardly any doubt in Lamara's voice. The community home's staff member pointed to official information. It said: Hameed, born March 2, 1991. I referred to the information facebook had provided for me and went on - target oriented.

At 7:30 pm we sang a birthday song for Hameed and gave him the cake together with some flowers. Then, after having half a cup of tea, Hameed announced that the date was not quite his birthday. As most of the day had gone by without his mother's birthday wishes he had called her to complain about her lack of attention. Thereupon, his mother managed to convince him that his birthday was not February 3 but March 2.

So when we went back to drinking the Pakistani tea Muhammad Jasim said: "You know, this is because a birthday is not important to the people in Afghanistan. We only celebrate the day of death.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAMEED!